Ben Madilynn
Joshua Garcia is on a hot streak.
Following the box-office success of Un/Happy for You, his reunion movie with Julia Barretto, Joshua has landed a new project with DisneyPlus Philippines.
Though it’s a small-but-sweet role, it marks a significant milestone.
For the Philippine premiere of Inside Out 2 on September 25, 2024, Joshua lends his voice to Lance Slashblade, a video game character whom Riley Andersen, the film’s protagonist, has a crush on.
Photo/s: Karen AP Caliwara
“It’s just a cameo,” Joshua says before adding that he felt “fear na anxious” because “hindi ko alam, e, paano gagawin.”
Additionally, the project is monumental in another sense—Allie Benedicto, integrated marketing director of Disney Southeast Asia, calls it the “first-ever Filipino dub content.”
Photo/s: PR
JOSHUA GARCIA ON BECOMING A VOICE ACTOR
How’s the experience?
At the press launch on September 18, 2024, Star Magic talent Joshua Garcia shared, “…sobrang fan ako ng mga animation, lalo ng Disney, Pixar, lahat. Fan ako kasi hindi lang sa mga Disney rin, like yung mga anime na Japanese, fan ako ng mga gano’n, e.
“Sabi ko, bakit hindi ko subukan ito? Kasi parang challenge siya sa akin since it’s my first time doing it, then ginawa ko siya kahit na kinakabahan ako.
“And then while doing it, akala ko madali lang, ang hirap pala…ang hirap pala!
“Tapos may kailangan kang hawakan na parang handlebar habang nilalabas mo yung emosyon doon sa salita mo para mas expressive ka.”
He has developed a newfound appreciation for voice actors.
“Ang ganda ng experience kasi doon ko nakita na…hindi madali maging voice actor. Napakahirap ng trabaho nila.
“Pero at least na-try ko siya once. Yung ginawa ko, cameo lang, and imagine kung ginawa ko yung buong pelikula as Anger or kung sino man, ang hirap, di ba? Buti na lang, cameo yung ginawa ko.
“Thank you to Disney Plus sa pag-imbita sa akin.”
Video: Karen AP Caliwara.
How does it compare to acting on set?
“Para kong nagpi-play. Dapat malaki…
“Siyempre mas mahirap sa akin kasi sa pelikula, alam ko na kung ano yung kailangan ibigay. Mas subtle yung acting, hindi malaki yung boses ko, pero malaki yung emosyon.”
JOSHUA GARCIA’S COMMON GROUND WITH LANCE SLASHBLADE
Among all the Inside Out characters, Joshua relates most to Lance.
Turning pensive, he said, “Sa mundo nila, feeling ko isa siyang sikat din—di man artista pero sikat sa game.
“So I think doon ako nakaka-relate sa kanya—as an actor na nilo-look up ng maraming tao din sa acting ko.
“Pero tulad ni Lance Slashblade, parang ano din ako, e, I’m not sure din kung dapat ba akong i-look up. Parang ganun ko siya nakikita.
“Parang ano ba yung dapat ika-look up sa akin ng mga tao? Sa acting? Pero parang nakakahiya pa rin for me.”
Some fans at the launch reassured him, “Marami!”
Still, he humbly replied, “Hindi, e. Ako lang kasi, kilala ko yung sarili ko bilang Joshua, parang every time na sinusuportahan niyo ako, iniisip ko, ano yung nakikita niyo sa akin?”
The Tropang Joshua fans chimed in again, “Madami!”
Smiling, he continued, “…pero siyempre, na-appreciate ko yung suporta niyo.
“Ganun din si Lance Slashblade. Base sa dina-dub ko, nakikita ko yung scene niya…parang hindi rin siya sigurado kung bakit siya favorite character, e. Hindi siya ganun kalakas na character.
“Parang special power niya umiikot lang siya, kaso sobrang walang kuwenta, binubundol niya lang.”
The small crowd erupted in laughter.
Now, without further ado, here’s a peek into Joshua Garcia’s era as a dubber.
Video: Karen AP Caliwara.
